Karnataka bundh turns violent, 29 buses burnt

DHNS

Bangalore, 22 January 2011: Protesters torched public property as the bundh called by BJP government to protest the Governor’s sanction to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa turned violent.

 

Government buses were burnt at Jayanagar, Electronic city, K R Puram of Bangalore and Turuvekere of Tumkur by miscreants. Reprots are pouring in.

 

On Friday, Government agencies said they were adopting a cautiious approachto the state-sponsored bundh called on Saturday.

 

The Education department has left it to the schools to remain open or closed, depending on the situation. Bangalore University, however, remains shut on third Saturdays.

 

Primary Education minister Visweswara Hegde Kageri said the local officials can decide on allowing schools to function. He said the protest will be peaceful unless the Opposition parties try to prove it otherwise.

 

Public transport

The daily commuters may not face any problem if the bundh remains peaceful. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation and the auto unions have decided to ply vehicles.

 

“All BMTC buses will operate as usual as we foresee a peaceful protest. A suitable decision will be taken if a situation demanding withdrawal of vehicles arises,” BMTC chief traffic officer Vishwanath told Deccan Herald.

 

Autos too will be on the roads unless faced with an adverse situation.

 

The Old Madras road was blocked for over two hours near the tin factory with the BJP workers staging a protest against the Governor’s decision. The workers also burnt a Governor’s effigy.

 

The protest delayed the passage of an ambulance, which was allowed with the intervention of the police.

 

Police on alert

The police have not taken any chance with security measures. The Police Department has been put on high alert. Thirty platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 18,000 policemen will be on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents on the bundh day, City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.

 

Forces have also been drawn from the City Armed Reserve, District Armed reserve and the Rapid Action Force (RAF). Bidari said all measures necessary to maintain law and order have been taken. The police stations have been asked to keep strict vigil in sensitive areas.

 

With the BJP workers taking to the streets on Friday night itself, the DG and IGP Ajai Kumar Singh has directed the police to be prepared to face any eventuality.

 

Additional Commissioner (Law and Order) Suneel Kumar said all the stations have been alerted and the forces were ready to meet any eventuality. However we are expecting it to be peaceful,” he said.

 

The Superintendents of Police at the district level will monitor the situation with the assistance of District Armed Reserve and Karnataka State Reserve Police.

 

Krishnamurthy Hoskote, DySP, Huvinahadagli told Deccan Herald that the school and colleges will be closed and there will not be any movement of buses. Five hundred policemen and a KSRP unit have been pressed into service. In Dharwad, 800 policemen have ben deployed in addition to KSRP and DAR personnel.